Colbert Gwain
The North West Livestock Development Fund, CDENO, has been a beacon of hope for livestock farmers in Cameroon's North West Region for five decades. Since its inception in 1974, CDENO has worked tirelessly to promote livestock development, improve animal health, and enhance the livelihoods of local farmers. As the institution celebrates its golden anniversary, it is poised to embark on a revolutionary new initiative that will transform the poultry industry in Cameroon: parent stock farming.
CDENO's past achievements are a testament to its commitment to livestock development. Over the years, the institution has vaccinated over 1,927,800 cattle against various diseases, produced over 1,955 tons of complete animal feed, and trained over 6,979 livestock breeders in modern farming techniques. CDENO's hatchery has also produced over 838,497 day-old chicks, providing a vital source of income for local poultry farmers.
Despite these impressive statistics, CDENO's leadership recognized that the institution's impact could be even greater. For years, Cameroon's poultry industry has relied heavily on imported parent stock, which has not only drained the country's foreign exchange reserves but also exposed local farmers to the risks of disease outbreaks and genetic limitations.
To address this challenge, CDENO is initiating an ambitious new project: parent stock farming. By breeding and raising parent stock locally, CDENO aims to reduce Cameroon's reliance on imports, improve disease control, and enhance genetic diversity.
The potential impact of this project is vast. With local parent stock, CDENO will be able to produce high-quality day-old chicks that are better adapted to Cameroon's climate and market demands. This, in turn, will boost the local poultry industry, creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.
As part of President Paul Biya's Import Substitution Policy, CDENO's parent stock farm will play a critical role in promoting self-sufficiency in the poultry industry. By reducing dependence on imported parent stock, CDENO will help to conserve foreign exchange, stimulate local economic growth, and improve food security.
The statistics are compelling. With its own parent stock farm, CDENO will be able to produce over 500,000 day-old chicks per annum, meeting a significant portion of the local demand for poultry products. This will not only reduce Cameroon's reliance on imports but also create new opportunities for local farmers, processors, and traders.
In addition to its economic benefits, CDENO's parent stock farm will also have a positive impact on the environment. By promoting local production and reducing reliance on imports, CDENO will help to minimize the carbon footprint associated with the transportation and storage of imported parent stock.
As CDENO embarks on this exciting new initiative, the institution's leadership is confident that it will have a transformative impact on the poultry industry in Cameroon. "Our goal is to make Cameroon self-sufficient in poultry production," said Mr. Mbah Shupong Michael, CDENO's General Manager, during last December 20, 2024, golden anniversary celebrations in Bamenda. "With our own parent stock farm, we will be able to produce high-quality day-old chicks that meet the needs of local farmers and consumers."
As CDENO celebrates its golden anniversary, its leadership is proud of the institution's achievements over the past five decades. However, they are even more excited about the future. With its parent stock farm, CDENO is poised to make a significant contribution to President Paul Biya's Import Substitution Policy, promoting self-sufficiency, economic growth, and food security in Cameroon.
As the institution embarks on this new chapter in its history, one thing is clear: CDENO's visionary leap into parent stock farming will have a lasting impact on the poultry industry in Cameroon, transforming the lives of local farmers, processors, and consumers for generations to come.
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